Former WWE Women's Triple Crown Champion Alexa Bliss mourns Hulk Hogan: 'He's made such an impact on our business'
Hogan's death last week at age 71 from a heart attack has cast a shadow over the wrestling world as WWE begins to get ready for a two-day SummerSlam event at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on August 2 and 3.
One of the headline events for that promotion will be a women's tag team championship match between Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair against Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez of The Judgement Day.
Before the big event, Bliss spoke to Fox News Digital about Hogan's impact on the wrestling world and what he meant to her.
'He obviously paved the way for what we do, and because of the impact that he's had on WWE, we're now able to do these huge shows,' said Bliss - born Alexis Kaufman.
'We're having a two-day SummerSlam. It's the first-time ever we're having a two-day SummerSlam. When you talk about WWE, one of the first names people talk about is Hulk Hogan.
'I had a moment with him at WrestleMania when I was hosting. He came out, and we did a surprise entrance and did the flex thing, and it was a lot of fun. He's made such an impact on our business — it's undeniable.'
She also shared a story of a video of that moment at WrestleMania which was captured by Bliss' now-husband, pop rock singer Ryan Cabrera.
'My husband had a video of that WrestleMania of me and Hulk Hogan at the entrance, not knowing it was me with him,' she recalled.
'He goes, "Oh, I have this really cool video of Hulk Hogan because I went to this WrestleMania once." I was like, "Yeah, that's me." And he was like, "Wait, what? That's not you." And I go, "Yeah, that blonde right there, posing with Hulk Hogan…" He goes, "No, it's a video of Hulk Hogan."
'And I go, "Right, but the person right next to him, that's me." I was like, "You have a video of Hulk Hogan and your future wife on that video." I always thought that was kinda cool.'
She continued: 'But obviously, yeah, it's super sad. Condolences to his family. He was such a big personality and a big character in our world, and he paved the way for us to do what we love.'
Tributes to Hogan poured in after his death from those throughout the wrestling world, and it's likely that another takes place this weekend.
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